ISIL attacks on Western capitals ‘a matter of time’: Former MI6 head

Time is ticking for the Japanese government after a new and very public demand for cash from the ISIL death cult comes as a former British intelligence chief warns attacks on the West’s major cities is a certainty.

ISIL has released a video vowing to murder two Japanese hostages unless the government pays them $200 million within 72 hours.

The ransom demand matches the amount pledged by Tokyo to the fight against ISIL just three days ago.

One of the hostages is Kenji Goto, a well-known freelance journalist and author who went to cover Syria's humanitarian crisis.

The other hostage is Haruna Yukawa, who claims to be a security contractor and has posted videos of himself on Facebook firing a rifle.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has demanded their release.

“I strongly demand the Islamic State group does not hurt the two Japanese citizens and immediately released them,” he said.